Do you have a garage door that is stuck or not working at all? Maybe it's just making some strange noises.
You can save money by troubleshooting the problem yourself and fixing it with simple home-improvement tools. Here are some common issues that plague garage door openers:
Check the Batteries
If your garage door has stopped working, there's a good chance that the problem is with the batteries. Check them to see if they are old or corroded. If so, replace them with a screwdriver or drill (depending on the model). Make sure you correctly put them—the positive side should face upward.
Check the Electrical Connections
You'll need to check all of the electrical connections between your wall control and the garage door opener itself.
If you have a screwdriver, loosen each one and make sure that the wires are still connected, then tighten them back up again. If you have trouble figuring out which wire is which or where it should be connected, use a multimeter or continuity tester to figure out what each color means and where it goes on your particular model.
Once you've adjusted them all properly, try opening and closing the door again using your wall control as an additional test!
Lubricate the Moving Parts
You'll want to lubricate the moving parts of the garage door opener, including all pulleys and cables, once per year. You can find simple instructions on how to do this in your owner's manual or by searching online for "lubricating garage door opener." Remember that you need to apply it sparingly, so don't go overzealous with the oil.
Test the Safety Features
Test the safety features. Test the safety sensors by watching to see if they come on when you're closing the door. If they don't, there may be a problem with your garage door opener itself or with one of its components. Test the safety reverse feature by shifting your car into reverse and closing the garage door. Make sure it stops immediately when it reaches 0 degrees or less (any lower than this will damage your opener). If it doesn't, then you need to adjust your limit switch—the device that controls how far down a garage door can go before reversing.
If everything checks out, try replacing any worn parts that could be responsible for any problems: springs and cables are common culprits here.
Replace Broken or Worn Equipment
If you’re having issues with your garage door and you don’t hear any noises, this could be a sign that one of the following parts needs to be replaced:
The Trolley
It is a small piece of metal that slides along the bottom of the door. It’s responsible for opening and closing your garage door. If it breaks or gets rusty, this can cause issues with closing—or worse, it could stop working altogether.
The Track
It is a metal rail that the trolley runs along. If it gets bent or rusted, this can cause problems with opening and closing your garage door.
Springs
These are crucial to your garage door’s functionality. If they break or become loose, this can cause issues with opening and closing. Tracks, trolleys and springs are all easy to replace on your own—just make sure you buy the right parts for your door.
Garage door opener motor (this is the most common issue)
These are crucial to your garage door’s functionality. If they break or become loose, this can cause issues with opening and closing. Tracks, trolleys and springs are all easy to replace on your own—just make sure you buy the right parts for your door.
The Best Way to Fix a Broken Garage Door Opener
It’s important to remember that garage door openers are complex pieces of machinery, so there are plenty of potential issues that could cause them to malfunction. However, contacting a professional is often the best way to ensure that your garage door opener is operating as it should.
Peter and Sons Construction is your local garage door expert. We specialize in the installation, replacement, and repair of garage doors & openers in the Greater Chicago Area. So if you have any questions or concerns about your garage door, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re here to help!
